Microsoft's Surface app shows accessory battery levels

You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.

Although accessories may not always be essential items on your back to school shopping list, external hard drives, cases, and microscopes can make the difference between a smooth transition and a rough one. Need help deciding what you really need for your new laptop or tablet? Head on up to our buyer's guide and check out our suggestions.

Last week, Wacom unveiled its latest tablet pen -- the Intuos Creative Stylus -- alongside a trio of Cintiq Companion standalone slates. The stylus is indeed a departure from the regular ol' scribbling units that we've seen popping up all over. But, is parting with $100 a safe bet in October or are you better off sticking with your current tools? Venture to the link above for our initial impressions.

In late 2007, One Laptop Per Child launched its "Give 1 Get 1" program. While the do-gooder organization had originally shrugged off suggestions that it should offer its XO Laptop as a commercial product, OLPC finally gave in, letting consumers get their own device for a $399 donation (that price also paid to send one to a child in a developing nation). So is the tablet any good? One Laptop Per Child's first commercial product comes loaded with software, but the quality of the apps is uneven and the price is high for what's essentially a kid's toy. Read on for more.

So you've decided on buying an Xbox One, eh? Well that's all well and good, but if you want a white one with a silver-grey hue -- and you aren't currently employed by Microsoft -- you're out of luck. An image, which surfaced on NeoGAF's forums and Reddit today, shows an offer for certain employees that includes a special edition Xbox, one year of Xbox Live, all first-party games, all on launch day, and wait for it... all for free.